Crate.



W. P. BROWN.

CRATE.

V APPLIOATIOH FILED SEPT. 24. 1908.

Patented Apr. 6,1909.

2 SHEETS-$3231 1.

UNITE STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

WILLIAM F. BROWN, OF GOLDTHWAITE, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WHIT SMITH, OF GOLDTHWAITE, TEXAS.

CRATE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at GoldthWa-ite, in the county of Mills and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to crates and particularly to that type of crate used for shipping eggs and the like.

The object of the invention is the provision of a simple and cheap crate of this character which may be folded in a comparatively small space for return shipment so as to avoid occupying so much available space.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate set up; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detailed elevation of one of the end members removed; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the crate in collapsed position; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the same with the top and bottom members held therein.

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 and 2 represent the side members and 3 and 4 represent the end members. For the sake of convenience in further explaining the invention, the side members will be referred to as the front and rear side members, and the end members will be referred to as the right-hand and left hand end members. The front side member is cut away at its left-hand end to form a tenon or dove-tailed slot 5 for the reception of the dove-tailed tongue 6 carried upon the left-hand end member, and adjacent the cut-away portion 5, the inside is recessed as at 7 on an incline to permit the tongue 6 to seat therein.

When the device is folded as is illustrated in Fig. 7, the cut-away portion 5 of the side 1 forms tongues 8 which are arranged on Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 24, 1908.

Patented April 6, 1909.

Serial No. 454,522.

either side of the tongue 6 and are adapted to seat in inclined recesses 9 formed in the lefthand end. The same construction is observed at the righthand end of the rear side member and the rear end of the right-hand end member, and the same numerals have been applied thereto.

The right-hand end of the front side and the lefthand end of the rear side together with the front end of the right-hand end member and the rear end of the left hand end member are formed into dove-tailed hinge projecting pieces 10, which enter recesses 11 formed in the end and side members. These parts are joined together at the righthand forward side and the left-hand rearward side by hinged pintles 12, which pass through all of the projections 10 and the left-hand forward end and the righthand rearward end are joined by pintles 13, which pass through the tongues 6 and 8. It will thus be seen that the crate is permitted to fold, as is shown in Fig. 7, into the form of a substantially elongated diamond.

U on the forward side 1 adjacent the top and ottom thereof, I provide hinged loops 14 which pass through apertures in the hinged plates 15, carried by the dividing partition 16, which extends centrally across the plate and is limited by the strip 17 extending vertically from bottom to top of the side 2. This divides the case into separate compartments as is common with egg crates and at the same time permits the folding of the structure for return shipment.

Attached to the end members adjacent their top and bottom are L-shaped guides 18, which overhang the top and bottom edges of the end members and form groovesl9 in which the top and bottom members 20 and 21 are adapted to slide. The insertion of these top and bottom members prevents any accidental collapsing of the crate and, at the same time, it holds the contents within the casing.

Any suitable fastening devices such as pins passing through the guiding members into the lids may be provided to hold the top and bottom members in position but, as such means are common, I have not illustrated any lock for the lid. In shipment the top and bottom lids are removed, the partition 16 folded against the side 1 and the top and bottom members placed in the crate and the device folded up as shown in Fig. 7.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood Without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the proportion, form, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the prin ciple or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, as defined in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention In a device of the class described, the combination with side and end members having integral dove-tailed ends, of pins passing through said ends to hinge the parts together, said side and end members being cut away at certain points to form recesses for the reception of the hinging parts of the members connected thereto, guiding strips carried by the end members and overhanging the top and bottom edges to form guidin channels, top and bottom members slidab y mounted in said channels and adapted to prevent the accidental collapsing of the crate, and apartition hinged to one of said side members and extending across to the o posite side.

In testimony whereof? have hereunto set my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM F. BROWN. Witnesses:

A. J. WEATHERS, LEONARD DOUGHTY. 

